Stars select Wyatt Johnston with No. 23 pick
The Dallas Stars drafted forward Wyatt Johnston with the 23rd overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Wyatt Johnston
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 176 pounds
Age: 18
Club: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
*2019-20 stats
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Johnston didn't get to play much meaningful hockey with the 2020-21 OHL season wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he received the opportunity to represent Canada at the U18 worlds and raised his draft stock significantly after producing four points in seven games without getting time on the power play.
Johnston doesn't wow with a booming shot or an explosive first stride, but he's a highly intelligent, responsible player with quick hands in tight. Most scouts project him to be a middle-six two-way center in the NHL.
What they're saying
"Johnston runs the right routes in the offensive zone, supporting teammates by occupying pockets of space and by arriving in scoring spots and the net at the right time to bang in rebounds. He slides passes through defensive layers, holds onto the puck to wait for lanes to open, or creatively aim shots on the goalie's pads to have them pinball into the open slot for trailing attackers," per Elite Prospects.